Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Barre vs Castleton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Fair Haven | Barre | Castleton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
8,412Highest |
4,453 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Barre and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.